The Victorian Wind Alliance, made up of wind workers, landowners, environmental and community groups and anyone else who supports wind energy, hopes to promote the wind energy sector in the face of a halt in wind farm developments.”The premise is that the majority of Victorians and the majority of Australians support the development of
renewable energy,” Friends of the Earth campaigns co-ordinator Cam Walker said.

“Here in Victoria, the government has largely stalled action on renewable energy.

“We want to create a community movement that allows the silent
majority to express that support.”

It was revealed in July that planning laws introduced by the Victorian
Government in August last year had resulted in no new applications to
build wind farms in the state.

The guidelines prohibit wind-farm developers building turbines within
2km of a home without the owner’s written consent. A number of “no-go
zones” were also declared in Victoria.

This was despite more than 75 per cent of regional and city dwellers
pledging their support for wind farms in a Clean Energy Council survey
in June. Around 1200 people were quizzed across Victoria, NSW and
South Australia.

The Victorian Wind Alliance will release a wind energy ‘pledge’
tomorrow and launch a website where people can register their
support.Mr Walker said “several hundred people” had already expressed
interest in joining the alliance.

The Friends of the Earth member said harnessing the wind to provide
clean energy would have many benefits for Victoria, environmentally
and financially.

“When wind farms are built in Victoria, they are worth around $16
million for landowners (per year),” Mr Walker said.

“When all wind farms are built they generate $4.5 million a year for
Victorian local councils.

“Hundreds of people are also employed directly when wind farms are built.”